The pace of national highway construction has significantly slowed down in the financial year 2023-24, according to the latest data from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The current fiscal year is on track to be the slowest since 2016-17, with only 5,853 kilometers of highways laid as of December 2024, compared to 12,349 kilometers during the same period last year. This marks a 37% decline in the daily average construction, which has dropped from 33.83 kilometers per day to 21.28 kilometers.
Despite the slowdown, the government continues to prioritize highway development, with a focus on road safety and quality. The Narendra Modi-led government has previously overseen the construction of 34,976 kilometers of highways in the first five years (2014-19) and 46,464 kilometers in the following five years (2019-24). This year, however, the emphasis is on ensuring better road quality and reducing accidents, which have been a growing concern. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari revealed that road accidents on national highways increased from 1,44,221 in 2018 to 1,51,997 in 2022, though there was a brief dip in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
A senior MoRTH official mentioned that the delay in highway projects is not surprising, as there is now a strong emphasis on quality. The introduction of multiple expressways in the country has led to increased focus on road engineering and safety measures. In this regard, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has implemented a performance-based rating system for private contractors. Contractors scoring below 70 out of 100 will be considered non-performers and ineligible for new highway projects until their performance improves.
Minister Gadkari also noted that around 44% of national highway projects, each valued at ₹150 crore or more, across 32 states and Union Territories, have been facing delays since March 2024.
On a positive note, the national highway network has expanded by 60% since 2014, now covering 146,195 kilometers, up from 91,287 kilometers. Additionally, the country’s National High-Speed Corridors have grown from just 93 kilometers in 2014 to 2,474 kilometers.
Furthermore, the Ministry has made strides in monetizing highway assets through the Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) model. Recently, NHAI awarded a Rs.6,661 crore contract for a 251-kilometer stretch of the Hyderabad-Nagpur corridor under this model, set for a 20-year period starting in 2024-25.
